Recording means for signaling devices.



L. S. GHADWICK.

BEGORDING MEANS FOR SIGNALING DEVICES.

APPLIoATIoN FILED APR. 1a, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co.,wAsH|Nc|TON, D. c.Y

L. S. GHADWIGK. RECORDING MEANS EOE SIGNALING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 18, 1910.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

L. s. GHADWIGK. RECORDING MEANS FOR SIGNALING DBVIGBS.

APPLICATION FILED APLIS, 1910. 1,002,368. Patented Sept. 5,1911.

i 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@LUMIA PLANOGRAPH CO.. WASHINGTON. D. l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEE S. CI-IADWICK, OF POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

RECORDING MEANS FOR SIGNAIING DEVICES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEE S. CHADWICK, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Pottstown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain Improvements in Recording Means for Signaling Devices, (being adivision of my application for patent for a signaling device iiled March17, 1910, Serial No. 549,849,) of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to signaling devices,

and the object of my invention is to provide means for making way guidesignal controlling records for the automatic operation of guiding orsignaling devices for use on automobiles and other vehicles; suchdevices being designed to render automobile touring easier and saferthan is possible by the use of touring books or other devices.

The operating mechanism for the blanks used for making records to besubsequently employed with my improved signaling device before referredto, is arranged to be positively driven from one of the wheels of anautomobile in a manner precisely similar to the driving of speedometers,odometers, &o.

Perforated records consisting of diskshaped cards of any suitablematerial may be made with my improved device and are designed to co-actwith mechanism that will automatically display large direction signs orsignals before the vision of the operator at intervals to indicate thecharacter of the road, the direction to follow, or to give otherinformation as to road or travel conditions; thereby permitting anautomobile driver to make faster time, with the practically absolutecertainty of being right and free from danger.

The important feature of my improved road guide or signaling device isits availability for use by automobile drivers for the purpose of makingtheir own records; a feature that is particularly valuable when goingover new roads or routes that are subsequently traveled. Such recordscan be kept for further reference, and may be used with the absolutecertainty that the same road can be followed a second time, no matterhow crooked or complicated it may be. The records for use with myimproved road guide or signal device whether produced by the operator,or supplied originally as standard records, can be corrected 0r en-Specication of Letters Patent. Original application led March 17, 1910,Serial No. 549,849.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911. Divided and this application filed April 18,

Serial No. 556,050.

larged at any time if thought necessary or desirable, thus keeping allrecords up to date. hile the record card is employed in practice as theactuating element for mechanism that will display a visual or operate anaudible signal or effect the operation of both; such visual signalsbeing particularly desirable and being employed for all importantdirections, the use of the same can be augmented or elaborated bydirections printed directly upon the face of the record card or sheet,The visual signals, however, are comparatively large, his attention canbe attracted toward them by an audible signal, and the driver can see ata glance what is to be done. As may be well understood, the signalingmeans forming the subject of my invention are far superior to anyprinted directions that have to be examined and selected while drivingat speed, and when employed an operator does not have to rely upon hiscompanions for road directions. These and other features of my inventionare fully pointed out hereinafter, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a front elevation of one form of. an automatic road guideor signaling device embodying my invention; Fig. 2, is a sectionalelevation on the line a-a, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, is a sectional elevation onthe line b-Z Fig. l; Fig. 4, is an enlarged view of a portion of thestructure illustrated in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, is a View illustrating amodification within the scope of my invention, and Fig. 6, is a faceview of a disk record employed with my improved guide or signalingdevice.

My improved structure comprises a suitable casing 1 containing mechanismfor effecting the display of visual signals 2, which may be displayed inan auxiliary or supplemental casing 3 mounted on top of the main casing,although the supplemental casing may, in some instances, form part ofthe main casing. In the present instance, the signals are arranged to beraised into view by the coaction of suitable mechanism designed toeffect such result. It will be understood, however, that I may employobscuring means normally covering the signals and provide means forlifting or displacing such obscuring means so as to bring the desiredsignal in view, and that the mechanism I have provided may be employedto operate an audible signal, with o without the use of a visual signal.

one element of frictional clutching means-y whereby the card records orblanks for making the same may be rotatably driven, and having anengaging flange 6. The other element of the clutching means is carriedby a gear wheel 7 having a hub 8 journaled on a centrally disposed shaft9, and the plate 5 is journaled on said hub 8; the latter being turnedto form a proper bearing for said plate. The gear wheel 7, whichtransmits its movement through said clutching means to the card recordor blank, is driven at a reduced speed by suitable mechanism hereinafterdescribed which receives its motion from a wheel of the automobilethrough the use of a flexible shaft suitably connected to a worm shaft10 having a worm 11 in engagement with a worm wheel 12 (which vmay haveone hundred and fortyfour teeth) loose on said shaft 9. The flexibleshaft is preferably attached to the worm shaft by means of a slottedcoupling (not shown). The worm wheel 12 drives a pinion 13, which may besuitably connected to said wheel (and may have twelve teeth), which, inturn meshes with a gear wheel 14 (which may have seventy-two teeth)journaled on a shaft 15 suitably mounted in the casing of the structure.The gear wheel 14 carries a planetary pinion 16 (which may have twelveteeth) revolving around a nonmoving gear wheel 17 (which may have thirtyteeth) and driving a gear wheel 18 (which may have thirty-one teeth) onetooth for every revolution of the gear wheel 14. The gear wheels 17 and18 are journaled on the shaft 15 and form the familiar paradox gearing.The gear 18 carries a pinion 18a (which may have twelve teeth) anddrives the gear 7 (which may have seventy-two teeth) of the clutchingmeans, thus completing the gear reduction. It will be understood,however, that means for effecting the gear reduction may be arranged inmany ways; the only point desired being to reduce the travel of therecord card or blank so that it will revolve once or substantially sofor the distance represented by the tour, for instance, 100 or 150miles, or convenient intermediate or lesser distances. In the presentinstance, the record card or blank is arranged to revolve once in 120miles, and is divided by the tangent lines 19 into spaces representingone mile, which spaces may be further subdivided into tenths of a mile,if desired. The plate 5 may be held in engagement with the clutchingface of the gear wheel 7 by a spring 20, surrounding the hub 8 of saidgear wheel and interposed between said plate and a collar 21 mounted onthe end of said hub. The driving plate 5 may carry a record-locating-pin22 for the purpose of positioning and positively driving the record cardor blank. As the plate 5 is clutch engaged under the tension of thespring 20, in order that the movement of the record card or blank can bestarted and stopped at will, I may provide a cam lever 23 suitablyjournaled in a sleeve 24 carried by the record card; said sleevesurrounding the hub 8 and the spring 20 and projecting through thecasing cover as clearly illustrated in the drawings. Normally the clutchmay be held in operative engagement by means of said spring 20. Thiscam, however, may be employed to separate the clutch faces should it bedesired to stop the motion of the record card or blank, and for thispurpose the cam is moved to the position shown by dotted lines, Fig. 1.It will be seen, therefore, that by the use of this mechanism a touristcan, if he desires, leave the tour as originally outlined at any point;stopping the movement of the record card or blank by raising the camlever 23 to a central position. A tour may be picked up later at thepoint left, and the driving clutch may be thrown into action by propermovement of the cam lever. By this means also, a record card can becorrected at any time. Upon releasing the clutch by raising the camlever, the record card or blank can be turned either backward orforward, using said cam lever as a crank. This lever is preferablymarked On at one side and Off on the other, as indicated in thedrawings. Between the hub 8 and the cam lever I may interpose a ball 25.

The record card employed with my improved signaling device may beprovided with apertures, perforations or other means for co-action withmechanism to operate or display the signals, visual or audible, andthese perforations or other co-acting means are preferably disposed inconcentric circles.

Mounted within the casing are a series of bell-erank-levers forming whatI have termed tracers. These levers are indicated at 30,'being pivotallymounted at 31 and having ends 32 lying in contact with the record card.They are held in this position by light springs 83, the tendency ofwhich is to hold said points 32 against the rear face of the record cardand to effect further movement of the same when the perforated portionsof said card are brought into registry with said tracers so that saidpoints may enter said perforations.

In the upper portion of the casing of the structure illustrated herein,visual signals may be displayed, indicated at 2 and journaled on asuitable shaft 34, and connected to the bell-crank-levers 30 by means ofrods These visual signals may be made of light material, colored or not,as the case may be, depending upon the character of the signals and thebackground afforded by the casing, and the movement of a tracer caused yits spring when the point enters a perforation of the record card issufficient to actuate the rod connected thereto and move a visual signalto a vertical position for observance by the driver of the automobile.IVhen the conditions indicated by the signal have been passed, thecontinued movement of the card pushes the tracer point out of theperforation, and such movement of the bell-crank-lever, through the roddescribed, throws the visual signal down; a movement that is assisted bya slight counterbalance weight 36 carried by said visual signal at oneside of the pivot. This signal operating mechanism is thel portionemployed with the use of a previously made record card. It is, however,possible for the automobile driver to make records with the use of myimproved road guide and signaling apparatus, such records being usuallymade when going over a. new road that is to be subsequently traveled. Indoing this, it will be necessary to insert a blank card for receivingthe record. To insert such record card, the cam lever is thrown at rightangles to the face of the casing, being retained in this position by anotch or groove 37, as shown, engaging the ball 25, and the cover of thecasing, held on by a pair of thumb nuts 40 or other suitable fasteningmeans which must be previously removed,is slipped ofi'. The record cardsmay be held to the driving plate 5 by a suitable spring clip 41,whichmust be removed, and then the card may be slipped over the clutch hub 8;the card being positioned with the aperture 42 in the same over therecordlocating-pin. The holding spring is returned to position inengagement with the record card, the cover of the casing is replaced andtightened by the thumb nuts 40, and then the record card is revolved bymeans of the cam lever used as a crank until the starting point of theproposed tour comes opposite a pointer 45 at the left of the casing.When ready to start, the clutch is snapped into place by turning downthe cam lever to show the word On, and the operation of preparing arecord can take place. It will be understood that a record previouslymade may be inserted in the casing in the same manner.

F or the purpose of making records, I may provide perforating orindenting means for the record cards comprising spring controlledpunches 50 having buttons or keys 5l whereby they may be manuallyoperated; such punches being automatically retracted by springs 52. Theoperating end of the punch is arranged to engage the record cardopposite an aperture 53 in a suitable plate 54 secured to the casing inthe same plane as the record driving plate 5 and behind the punches,whereby, in the case of cardboard or paper reco-rd cards, a cleanaperture may be readily made, or, in the case of metallic record cards,an indentation may be made. In the present instance, I have shown myapparatus as equipped with ten buttons or keys, controlling as manypunches, and having different indicating marks on their facescorresponding to signals or indicators which may be brought into fullview of the operator. These keys or buttons are indicated by the letters44A, 44B, Cana Dan 44E, Ff G5 IL I and .I, and in the use of the roadguide the following table or index may be employed in connection withthe same:

A. The signal indicated by the button A may be employed to impart thefollowing information: (a) Straight road through town. (b) Straight orcez'lter road through three forks of the road. (c) Straight road aheadwhen not in use through town and forks.

B. The signal indicated by the button B may be employed to impart thefollowing information: (a) Crooked road ahead, use caution.

C. The signal indicated by the button C may be employed to impart thefollowing information: (a) Rough, bad road ahead, caution. Water-bars orculverts in road, caution. (c) In combination with ,71) under R meanscross bridge ahead.

D. The signal indicated by the button D7 may be employed to impart thefollowing information: (a) Sharp turn in road at left hand.- (ZJ) Takeleft hand road at four corners.

E. The signal indicated by the button E may be employed to impart thefollowing information: (a) Curve to left. (In) Take left hand road atfork; or avoid branch to right on straight road; or take road to leftbranching from straight road. (c) In combination with (5) under IL meanstake second road to left at any num` berv of roads of forks branchingfrom a single point.

F. The signal indicated by the button F may be employed to impart thefollowing information: (a) Go slow under perfect control. Danger. (o) Incombination with (c) under C, means bridge ahead to cross.

G. The signal indicated by the button G may be employed to impart thefollowing information: (a) Danger of arrest, go slow. (b) Speed traps,go slow. (c) Can be used in combination with any of the other signs.

H. The signal indicated by the button to left from branches or forks.

H may be employed to impart the following information: (a) Railroadcrossing to be made ahead. (7)) In combination wit-h under 12, meanstake second road (c) In combination with under L means take second roadon right from branches or forks. I. The signal indicated by the button Imay be employed to impart the following information: (a) Bear to rightof road; or right hand curve ahead. (b) Take right hand road at fork; oravoid left hand road while on straight road; or take right handbranching road from straight road.

J. rlhe signal indicated by the button J may be employed to impart thefollowing information: (a) Sharp turn to right. (b) Take first righthand road at four corners.

Vhile this will serve to indicate the manner in which the Vapparatus maybey used, it will be understood, of course, that other information maybe imparted by the signals just referred to, and that a great manyfurther indications may be made by combination of two or more signs, andby the display of cert-ain signs in rapid succession. If necessary ordesirable, a greater or less number of signs can be employed by changingthe machine to this extent. In other instances, the visual sign may be aword of warning as Dangerg Speed trapg Draw bridge, &c.

As shown herewith, the visual signals or signs are carried by a singleshaft or spindle, and are movable to a position substantially centralwith respect to the supplemental casing. If desired, they may be y.mounted upon a plurality of spindles or shafts so that in makingcombinations, a plurality of signs or signals may be disposed side byside. In Fig. 5, I have shown a pair of shafts upon which the signalsare journaled, so that for combination signals a pair may be displayedside by side, and in other instances arrangements may be made fordisplaying several signals side by side. To limit the extent of movementwhen raising and lowering the signals, I may provide stops as indicatedat 55 and 5G.

lVhen making a record, the person making it would not want to work abutton until he arrived at the place he wished to record and it would beobviously impossible to make fast or safe time in driving overcountryroads without having sufficient warning. The signals shouldpreferably be thrown into view at least l mile before the change ofdirection or change in method of driving is desired. For that purposethe tracer is made so that it does not reach the top of the slot in therecord card when the perforation is made. However, it will be seen thatthe tracer will drop into the perforation the next time the record cardrevolves as soon as the edge of perforation releases the tracer, thusallowing the signal to come up to view before the'car arrives at theplace for which the warning was given. By using wider punches andlowering the tracer warning can be given at least a mile ahead forchange in direction; or if one desires, the record can be adjusted byrevolving same to make the direction signs to be shown as early or aslate as desired by the operator. It may be found advisable to advancethe record a trifle for city driving so that the direction signs will bethrown up not over one block ahead of the turning point. The records canbe easily set by revolving the same in either direction to suit the whimof the operator. The mechanism shown in the drawings allows for mileadvance.

Although I have shown and described mechanical means for effecting theoperation of the visual signals, it will be understood that a tracercould-be arranged to close a circuit after passing through an aperturein the record card to effect the raising of the signal by electricalmeans; the circuit being broken when the aperture has passed the tracer,or, if desired, the bell crank lever when moved could effect a contactthat would close the circuit, and such arrangement I deem to be withinthe scope of my invention. In other instances, the card might bearranged to carry contact points.

I have shown in the drawings the use of a record disk, for operating theimproved guide, and mechanism for producing such record on a disk-shapedcard. It will be understood, however, that other means may be employedas follows:

The intention is of course to furnish a large number of up-to-daterecords at small cost, that will cover all the important tours in thecountry, and the mechanism shown is for use with a disk record, as theyare very convenientto,carry, may cover tours of 120 miles each, asnot-ed, and when a new record is to be inserted they are readilyhandled. However, if considered more desirable, machines can be built towork on the same principle and use a long tape, mechanically driven,instead of a record disk. IVith a tape any length, a long trip could bemade without changing records. I believe, however, that the mostconvenient forln would be the disk-shaped cards as I have found thatonly portions of long trips or tours are taken by tourists. IlVith along trip tape record it would necessitate changing the tape by eitherrevolving the records or by inserting a new one for every change in thetour. The card records can be mo-re easily carried and a change can bemore easily made. A drum record could also be made to work along thesame lines, but would not bc so convenient to carry. Either of the abovesuggested records would necessitate certain changes of design in themachine; all of which, however, are within the scope of my invention. Itwould also be possible to make a record from some soft metal or othersuitable material, to be used without perforations. Instead of theperforations, dents could be placed in the records and these dents usedto operate the direction signs, or another possible arrangement would beto use nicks in the edge of the record, the nicks being of diiierentsize to operate the road signs. rIhe circular perforated card, however,allows many signals to be used at one time and has many other points ofdecided advantage. Another point of great importance in road touring isthe difhculties of securing satisfactory road directions at night. Byequipping the automatic road guide with a small electric. light, itwould be as easy to follow directions at night as by day. Any one whohas toured knows how impossible it is to read maps or guide books atnight by the light of a lamp or match. In addition, colored lights andcombinations of the same could be used for signaling purposes, with orwithout the use of the other visual signals shown and describedherewith. Further, I may employ an audible signal with the visualsignals. This may be in the form of a gong to be sounded once or twiceas the visual signal is displayed, or it may be a continuous ringingalarm, lasting as long as the visual signal is displayed. This gong orcontinuously ringing bell may be electrically operated, if desired.

Although I have described my improved signaling apparatus asparticularly available for use with automobiles and in which the powerto operate the same is transmitted from one of the wheels of theautomobile in a manner similar to the operation of speedometers,odometers, and the like, it will be understood that it may be employedwith vehicles of any character in which mechanism is arranged to operatein proper correlation with the distance traveled, with means foractuating such mechanism by movement of the vehicle upon which theapparatus is placed. Y

The structure shown in the drawing has been designed for use on the dashof the car in front of the driver. It will be understood, however, thatindicators or signals of the same character shown at such point of anyof the types described herein can be employed at other points in thecar, with mechanical or electrically-operated means for effecting thedisplay of the same, as may be best adapted for the particular purpose.

The structure shown is designed as a combined signaling device andrecord maker, and I may provide means for locking the signaling deviceas well as the record making mechanism; both together or either or bothseparately. It will be obvious, however, that a signaling deviceomitting the record making mechanism could be employed, and hence I deemthe same to be within the scope of my invention.

I make no claim to the guiding or signaling device referred to hereinand shown in the accompanying drawings; the same being claimed in myapplication tiled March 17, 1910, Serial N o. 549,849, of which thisapplication is a division.

I claim:

1. In a device for forming a way guide signal controlling record forvehicles, a support for the way guide blank, means operated by thetravel of the vehicle for causing a proportional movement of the blank,and mechanism manually operated to displace portions of the blank at anypoint in the surface of the same.

2. In a device for forming a way guide signal controlling record forvehicles, a support for the way guide blank, means operated by thetravel of the vehicle for causing a proportional movement of the blank,and punching mechanism manually operated to perforate the blank at anyportion of the same.

3. In a device for forming a way guide signal controlling record forvehicles, a rotatable support for the way guide blank, means operated bythe travel of the vehicle forl causing a proportional movement of theblank, and mechanism manually operated to displace portions of the blankat any point in the surface of the same.

4;. In a device for forming a way guide signal controlling record forvehicles, a rotatable support for the way guide blank, means operated bythe travel of the vehicle for causing a proportional movement of theblank, and punching mechanism manually operated to perforate the blankat any port-ion of the same.

5. In a device for forming a way guide signal controlling record forvehicles, a support for the way guide blank, means operated by thetravel of the vehicle for causing a proportional movement of the blank,and a plurality of manually operated elements for displacing portions ofsaid blank during the travel of the same, said elementsengaging theblank at different points.

6. In a device for forming a way guide signal controlling record forvehicles, a support for the way guide blank, means operated by thetravel of the vehicle for causing ta proportional movement of the blank,and

a plurality of punches manually operated to perforate the blank duringthe travel of the same, said punches engaging the blank at differentpoints.

7. In a device for forming a way guide signal controlling record forvehicles, a support for the way guide blank, means operated by tlietravel of the vehicle for causing' a proportional movement of the blank,a plurality of manually operated elements for displacing portions ofsaid blank during the travel of the same, said'elements 'engaging theblank at different points, and means for changing the position of theblank support with respect to the driving means. Y

8. ln a device for forming a Way guide signal Controlling recordforvehicles, a sup'- port for the Way guideblank, means oper= ated by thetravel of the vehicle for 'causing a proportional Amovement of theblank, punches manually operated to perforate the blankat any aorton ofthe same, and means Y for retracting said punches.

9i In a device for forming a Way guide signal controlling record forvehicles, a support for the way guide blank, means operated by thetravel of the vehicle for causing a i proportional movement of theblank, punches manually operated to perforate the blank at any portionof the same, and springs for retracting said punches.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LEE S. CHADWICK.

llVitnesses:

MURRAY C. BOYER, WM. A. BARRt copies ai this etant may be attained fornvt cents each, by maretti-ng the cemmissinner of Patents, washington, nc.

